New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-13
WOMEN DECIDED THE VOTE.
THE TWO NEW SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

THEY ACT AT ONCE IN FAVOR OF ECONOMf-Mh'
SIMMONS ELECTED PRESIDENT
The portraits OF the presidents OF the Board OF Edu-
satou that are hung on tho Aals Of the meetingroom
Of The Board would have been justified In wearing an
of surprise at the drst meeting for the year
yesterdsy as they looked down upon the women CON-
snissioners appointed by Mayor Grace who for the
first time occupied their seats. For seventy five
years since the beginning of the public schools IN
New-York the Commissioners have adhered to the
traditions Of tho first Board OF Education. Women
have usually made up large portion OF the audiences
- they form majority OF the teachers IN the schools
but this was the first occasion on which women had
passed beyond the railing and entered into the de-
alterations OF the Board The Com missioners felt the
influence Of this innovation. Most Of them arrived
earlier than usual and assembled in the committee
rooms on the first floor Of the building before the
meeting. When Isaac Bell arrived he sent out at
once for o bootblack to put extra polish on mis-
shoes, that had become muddy in the streets
Bell observed they saw that wore muddy boots"
Mrs Mary Nash Aguew and Mise Grace h. Dodge
arrived few minutes before the regular hour OF meet
ing They were accompanied by Sohoo! Inspector A.
Mel Agnew. the brother OF DR.. Agnew and were con-
Quoted at by Clerk McMullin to the presidents
room, where MIR. Simmons received them and they
were introduced to the members OF the Board VINO
were present. When the horr OF meeting arrived
Commissioner William Wood calamity ohered ai- . arm
where he showed her the seats assigned TO the ladics
next to the desk occupied by himself The seats are
on the west side of the roOm President summons es-
corted Miss Dodge to the meeting room
al want to introduce you to the oldest member of
the Board" said Mr.. Wood. presenting Mr.. Bell to
Niss Dodge.
"No you don't, replied Mr.. Bell, after greeting the
young lady. Mr.. Wood was here fifty years ago.
Look at bis white hair and ID en- look at mine"
The room was crowded and all the seats Tor visitors
occupied. Most of those the east side were oecu-
pied by male principals and school trustees Tho
audience Oh the side Of the house on which the women
sat was almost entirely of women, teachers OF the
schools. many of them members OF the Teachers In
prov emeut Association that started the movement or
Schools.
Beside the women there were three men Commits
siOners at the Board tor the trst time samuel N.
Purdy r. Guggenheimer, and Walter Il. WeDb
Commissioner Wood remarked that the grandfather
and the father OF Miss Dodge had done business with
years |. member Commissioners OBreu and Sohnitt
we're the only members OF the Board absent Mr..
O'Brien excused but the Board declined 10 excuse
Dir. Schm.tt. Both OF the women Commissioners wore
dresses OF dark material Mrs. Agnew lie the older OF
the two. She OF small stature Her black cashmere
dress was relieN ed by fringe OF lace at the throat
Her dark bonnet had ribbons OF black and maroon,
and her gloves were of brown silk Her brown HAIR
brushed smoothly over each temple. Miss Dodge's
face was sill ,htly flushed. She tightly fitting
sacque of dark CLOTH dark tan-colored kid gloves
high black bonnet trimmed with dark ribbons.
Her haIr which is of light brOmn simply brushed
back from the forehead.
Mrs. Agnew's name came in alphabetical order first
in the list OF the members, but in calling the roll the
order was temporarily changed. The first business
was the election of president Tor the year. Mr. SIM
mons received the unanimous vote, ana Mr.. Wood,
who acted temporary chairman appointed Commits
sioners Agnew and Dodge to escort him to the chair
Arthur McMullin reelected clerk of the Board,
and Join Davenport auditor. unanimously. The
ladies voted all the questions. discussion arose
about placing communication on industrial ed9cation
on the minutes This opposed on the ground that
such comm unicatOns should be filed as they incur
unnecessary expense for printing. The motion to
print lost the ladies voting against IT and making
the majority.
The board decided to take action in regard to |
building schools at present owing to the reduced
appropriations. Mr. Wood called attention TO tue APP
preparation OF 1877 when the fund tor teachers saa
ries cut do wn. 1t was then decided that as tho
teachers paid by the year their salaries could not
legally be reduced without previous notice he sug |
ested reference this action of the Board OF APP
porlonment in reducing the appropriation tor Normal |
College aries Tor The present year to the counsel OF
the Board of Education. TIE resolution was passed.
After the adjournment Mrs. Aznew and Miss Dodge
were surrounded their desks by school inspectors
and trustees Commissioners and superintendent,
who offered ngratulatons. In the classification OF
the corporate schools 10y groups, each member OF the
Board being assigned to the schools to be visited, Mrs.
Agnew received the Protestant Halt Orphan Asylum |
In West IenIh-st. the Roman Catholic Female Orphan
Asylum at Madson-ave and Fifty -irst-st, and Miss |
Dodge was assigned to the Newly ork Juvenile Asylum
in One hundred and ysixthst, and the Lord
School, No. 1875 Greenwich-st William +. Dodge,
the father OF Miss Dodge present when the Board
adjourned and accompanied the ladies home.